UsedScore

2016 Mazda CX-5: Avoid

Owners filed 340 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Mazda CX-5 in its first five years on the road, about 304 for every 100,000 sold: 3.7× the rate of a typical CX-5 year. That's more than twice a typical year, across more than one problem area.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the lights (36% of complaints, median 40,000 miles).

Complaint index
3.7×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical CX-5 year
Rank
9th of 9
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
340
first five years; 304 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
4
campaigns
1st generation, 2013–2016 · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2016 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring (facelift)

Photo: 2016 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring (facelift) · HJUdall, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Lights36% · 124 complaints · median 40,000 miles
  2. Brakes14% · 47 complaints · median 18,000 miles
  3. Powertrain12% · 42 complaints · median 5,000 miles
  4. Air bags4% · 12 complaints · median 39,000 miles
  5. Electrical10% · 34 complaints · median 28,000 miles
  6. Engine4% · 12 complaints · median 8,000 miles
  7. Speed control3% · 9 complaints · median 16,000 miles
  8. Visibility11% · 36 complaints · median 6,000 miles
  9. Body and structure6% · 19 complaints · median 10,000 miles
  10. Fuel and propulsion2% · 7 complaints · median 3,000 miles

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Brakes

Owners of this model report the electric parking brake sticking or dragging, leading to overheated rear brakes, uneven pad wear, and occasional loss of braking response. Some also describe sudden acceleration or brake failure while slowing in parking lots, with dealers frequently pointing to a service bulletin for the parking brake system.

Warning signs:
Many mention squeaking or grinding noises, flashing EPB or brake warning lights, burning smells, smoke, or a hot wheel before the brakes were found worn or seized.
What shops did:
Dealers often replaced brake pads, rotors, calipers, or the EPB module, sometimes citing a technical service bulletin, though several owners say repairs were denied under warranty or the noise/heat returned.
Mileage:
most between 15,000 and 40,000 miles, among 55 complaints that give it

“After about 15 minutes of highway driving, the vehicle began to shake in the rear and the tire pressure monitor indicated that there was a problem”

“I stopped at a parking lot and I noticed the rear right wheel was literally smoking”

Lights

Owners of this CX-5 commonly report the daytime running LED lights dimming, flickering, and eventually failing within a few years, often just after the warranty ends. Fixing it usually means replacing the entire sealed headlight assembly at a cost of roughly $1,000 or more per side.

Warning signs:
Many owners first noticed dimming or flickering DRLs, often spotted by someone else or by seeing a dim reflection off a car ahead, before the light went dark.
What shops did:
Dealers typically said the sealed headlight unit couldn't be repaired and required full assembly replacement, often over $1,000 per side, with many owners denied warranty coverage.
Mileage:
most between 30,000 and 55,000 miles, among 120 complaints that give it

“We first noticed this failure by observing our reflection in a business window”

“I noticed that the daytime running light was not illuminated fully (about 25% illuminated) while driving behind another vehicle”

Powertrain

Many owners of this model describe the transmission hesitating or refusing to engage after starting or stopping, sometimes followed by a hard jerk or lurch forward. This often led to full transmission replacements, and some owners report the issue recurring or being hard for dealers to reproduce.

Warning signs:
Owners report delayed engagement into drive or reverse, engine revving without acceleration, rolling backward at stops, dashboard warning lights, and violent jerking or clunking when gears finally engage.
What shops did:
Dealers most often replaced the entire transmission under warranty, though some owners say technicians could not duplicate or diagnose the problem despite repeated visits.
Mileage:
most between 0 and 25,000 miles, among 41 complaints that give it

“It would be in drive but would reverse. Then it would lurch forward and the engine would rev and it would go forward.”

“Car can roll backward while waiting for gear to engage, and will rev and then jerk harshly into gear.”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (4)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 20V063000February 202036,761 vehicles

    Exterior lighting: headlights

    Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2016 CX-5 vehicles. The LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) may fail while driving.

    Risk: If the DRL fails, the vehicle's visibility may be reduced to other drivers on the road, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the headlights, and replace the sealing gasket or headlight assemblies, as necessary, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 16V644000September 2016580,455 vehicles

    Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate

    Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 vehicles manufactured November 18, 2008, to June 8, 2013, 2012-2015 Mazda5 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2010, to June 22, 2015, 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 26, 2015, and 2013-2016 CX-5 vehicles manufactured December 15, 2011, to December 26, 2015. On the affected vehicles, the lift gate support struts may corrode, possibly causing the struts to break and/or the lift gate to drop unexpectedly.

    Risk: If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury.

    Fix: Mazda dealers will replace the both lift gate supports, free of charge, however parts are not currently available.

  • NHTSA 16V203000April 2016578 vehicles

    Steering

    Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 2, 2015, 2013-2014 Mazda2 vehicles manufactured July 3, 2013, to August 8, 2014, 2014-2016 CX-5 vehicles manufactured January 19, 2013, to December 2, 2015, and 2013-2015 CX-9 vehicles manufactured December 6, 2012, to July 31, 2015. The lower mounting nuts and bolts that attach the front strut assembly to the steering knuckle may loosen, allowing the steering knuckle to separate.

    Risk: If the steering knuckle separates from the strut assembly, it can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lower mounting nuts and bolts that secure the front strut assembly to the steering knuckle.

  • NHTSA 16V064000February 2016268,799 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap

    Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Mazda CX-5 vehicles manufactured June 27, 2013, to February 2, 2016. The affected vehicles have a fuel filler pipe that may rupture in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."

    Risk: A rupture of the fuel filler pipe may result in a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

    Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will alter the attachment between the fuel filler pipe and the left rear side of the bracket of the fuel filler pipe, free of charge.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Mazda sent NHTSA 704 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2016 CX-5. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • CSP13d Dealer Ltr · July 2025 · Warranty extensionCSP13 - CUSTOMER SERVICE PROGRAM - MAZDA CONNECT INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION As a result of a Mazda Connect Infotainment Class Action settlement, Mazda Motor Corporation has…
  • CSP13c Dealer Ltr · June 2025 · Warranty extensionCSP13 - CUSTOMER SERVICE PROGRAM - MAZDA CONNECT INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION As a result of a Mazda Connect Infotainment Class Action settlement, Mazda Motor Corporation has…
  • CSP13a Parts and Warranty · May 2025 · Warranty extensionCSP13 - CUSTOMER SERVICE PROGRAM - MAZDA CONNECT INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION.
  • CSP13b Dealer Ltr · May 2025 · Warranty extensionCSP13 - CUSTOMER SERVICE PROGRAM - MAZDA CONNECT INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION.
  • CSP13a Dealer Ltr · May 2025 · Warranty extensionCSP13 - CUSTOMER SERVICE PROGRAM - MAZDA CONNECT INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION.
  • CSP13 Dealer Letter · April 2025 · Warranty extensionCSP13 - CUSTOMER SERVICE PROGRAM - MAZDA CONNECT INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION As a result of a Mazda Connect Infotainment Class Action settlement, Mazda Motor Corporation has…
  • CSP13 FAQs · April 2025 · Warranty extensionCSP13 - CUSTOMER SERVICE PROGRAM - MAZDA CONNECT INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION.
  • CSP13 Parts and Warranty · April 2025 · Warranty extensionCSP13 - CUSTOMER SERVICE PROGRAM - MAZDA CONNECT INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION.

All 2016 CX-5 bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2016 Mazda CX-5 reliable?
Owners filed 340 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Mazda CX-5 in its first five years on the road, about 304 for every 100,000 sold: 3.7× the rate of a typical CX-5 year. That's more than twice a typical year, across more than one problem area. Ratings compare CX-5 years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2016 CX-5 problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the lights (36%), the brakes (14%) and the powertrain (transmission and drivetrain) (12%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2016 Mazda CX-5 been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2016 Mazda CX-5, the most recent in February 2020 (exterior lighting). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Mazda. The 2016 Mazda CX-5 on NHTSA.gov · How we rate